Dry-cleaning apparatus



Jan. 6, 1931. P. L. DoRNER DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1o, 1927 s sheets-sheet v'1 Jan.v 6, 1931. P. L. DORNER DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. lO, 1927 3 Sheets-.Sheet 2 Jan. 6, 1931. P. L. DORNER DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 10, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 NB W Patented Jan. 6, 1931 PIERRE L. DORNER, F EV'ANSTON, ILLINOIS DRY-CLEANING APPARATUS Application led August 10, 1927. Serial No. 211,981.

My invention relates, 'more particularly, to apparatus for use in the so-called drycleaning of fabricsemployin a liquid cleaning material, as for examp e benzine. and

which it is desired be cleansed of objectionable matter, such as dirt, discoloring matter and water which becomes mixed with the cleansing liquid in the dry-cleaning operation, and when it becomes acid in condition,

restored to neutral condition.

One of my objects is to provide apparatus for the purpose above stated whereby the drycleaning and the liquid-cleansing operations may be rendered continuous; to provide an apparatus whereby danger of overflow of the cleansing liquid inthe washer will be avoided to provide an apparatus employing a filtering device whereby the several liltering sections thereof in which the liquid to be cleansed is treated in succession, may be separately charged with the desired filtering material; and generally to provide improvements in apparatus as hitherto provided to the end that the will be better adapted to perform t-he work required of them, with the maxi-- mum of safety and the minimum of labor.

. Referring to the accompanying draw- 1ngs:`

Figure 1 is a plan view of so-called drycleaning apparatus embodying my improvements. Figure 2 is a sectional view in elevation 'of the apparatus of Fig. 1, the sectionv being taken at the line 2-2 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction ofthe arrow. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the washer, mixer and connections therebetween forming portions of the` apparatus of Fig. 1, the mixer being shown in section., this view being taken at the irregular line 3--3 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Figures 4 to 10, inclusive, are detailed views of certain portions of the filter-press forming a part of the apparatus of Fig.`1; Fig. 4 being an end view of the filter-press as viewed from the right-hand side of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a face view of one of the lurality of heads forming a portion of the terpress; Fi 6, a face view of the head at the other en of the press; Fig. 7, a face view of one of the plurality of ribbed plates constituting parts of the filterpress; Fig. 8, a face view of one of the hollow rames forming parts of the filter-press; Fig.

9, an enlarged v1ew invertical, longitudinal, sectional elevation of a portion of the filterpress, the section being taken at the line 9 55 on Fig. 7 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 10, an enlarged plan sectional view through a port-ion of the filterpress, the section being taken at the line 10 on Fig. 8 and viewed in the direction of the 30 arrow; and Fig. 11, an enlarged, broken' sectional view taken at the irregular line 11-11 on Fig. 5 and viewed inthe direction of the arrows.

Referring to the particular illustrated embodiment of my invention, the dry-cleaning apparatus shown comprises, generally stated,

a washer represented generally at 11 in which the fabrics to be cleaned are subjected to the cleaning liquid; a mixer represented generally at 12 in communication with the outlet of the washer 11 through which the cleaning li uid passes and in which,pre1iminarily, the su stances to -be charged "int-o the filter-press are mixed with the liquid; a filter-press reprcsented generally at 13 for cleaning the liquid withdrawn from the washer and returning it tothe latter in cleansed condition for re-use; and a pump represented enerally at 14: for effecting the desired circu ation of the liquid so through the apparatus.

Referring now to the washer 11, which may be of any desirable construction, such as the general construction now commonly in use, it comprises a tank portion 15 containing a 85 holder (not shown) for the articles to be cleaned, such as clothes to be dry-cleaned, this holder being mounted on a shaft 16 journalled in the ends of the tank 15 and rotated, preferably intermittently in opposite directions, by power applied to a drive pulley 17 in any suitable way and transmitted to the shaft 16 as through the gearing represented generally at 18. The tank 15 is in communicationl at its upper end with the depending branches 19 of a5 a pipe 20 connected with a pipe 21 which leads from the outlet ofA the filter-press 13 and through which the cleansed cleaning liquid is supplied to the tank 15.

' The mixer 12 comprises a receptacle 22 con- 100 The washer 15 and mixer 12 are referably located in substantially the same orizontal plane, as shown, and are in communication with each other through a pipe 29 which opens at one end into the bottom of the tank 15 and at its other end into the bottom of the tank 22 this pipe being equipped with a manuall controlled shut-off valve 30.

'lhe pump 14 may be of any desirable construction and may be driven in any suitable way, its suction inlet being in communication with the pipe 28 and its outlet opening into a pipe 31 which leads to the filter-press 13.

Opening into the pipe 31 between the filterpress 13 and the pump 14 is a pipe 32 which is provided between its ends with a manuallycontrolled shut-ofi' valve 33 and extends at its depending portion 34 downwardly into the lower portion of the tank 22 through the top of the latter. The pipe 32 between the pipe 31 and the mixer 12 communicates with a pipe 35 which is provided with a manually-controlled shut-off valve 36 and opens into the upper portion of the tank 15.

The filter-press 13 is formed of a plurality of filter sections the press shown comprising three of such sections represented generally at 37, 38 and 39, though the number thereof may be varied as desired, these sections being separated b heads 40 and 41.

Each of the ter-press sections 37, 38 and 39 are shown as of the same general construction and comprise elements of a form and grouping as 1s common in filter-press constructions, these elements comprising rectangular frames 42 alternating with rectangula-r plate-members 43, with sheets 44 of fabric interposed therebetween. Each of the frames 42 contains at one corner thereof a lthrough-passage 45 extending crosswise thereof'and at its diagonally-disposed corner a through-passage 46 extending transversely thereof and opening into the center of the frame through a port 47. Each of the platemembers 43 contains at opposite faces thereof grooves 48 wholly within the confines of the margin of the plate-member which latter is slotted at the bases of said ribs as represented at 49, these slots communicating interiorly of the plate, through ports 50, with through-passages 51 at the corner-portion of each plate, the diagonally opposite corner of each plate containing a through-passage 52.

The elements forming the filterin sections 37, 38 and 39, together with the hea 40 and 41 are rigidly clamped between end heads 53 and 54 which are supported on a pair of parallel rods 55 and 56, the head 54 abutting nuts 57 at ends of these rods and the head 53 being forced toward the head 54 with the filter sections 37, 38 and 39 and heads 40 and 41 inter osed therebetween as shown, by a Shaft 5 threaded in a cross-member 58 which abuts nuts 59 on the adjacent ends of the rods 55 and 56.

The sections 42 and 43 are grouped to alternate with each other as above stated and in the relative positions illustrated, these elements resting on the rods 55 and 5 6 at lugs 60 and 61 thereon, to cause the openings 45 and 51 of these elements to register with each other and also cause registration of the openings 46 and 52, thereby forming at diagonally-opposed corners of these grouped elements, at each lter section, continuous passages extending from one end to the other of each filter section, the assages formed by the openings 46 and 52 eing inlet passages and the passages formed by the openings 45 and 51 being outlet passages.

The intermediate heads 40 and 41 which are alike in construction are formed with `lugs 40a' and 41a, respectively, at which they rest on the rods 55 and 56, each of these heads being formed at opposite faces thereof with recesses 62 and 63, the recess 62 communicating with a passage 64 which opens into a passage 65 in the head, the passage 65 having a portion which registers with the passage formed by the openings 45 and 51 inl the frames and plates 42 and 43, respectively, and extends upwardly through the top of the head, and the recess 63 communicating with a passage 66 which opens into a. passage 67 in the adjacent face of the head in alignment with the passage formed by the openings 45 and 51 in the frames 42 and plates 43, respectively, of the one of the filter sections next to it to the left in Fig. 1. Each head' also contains a passage 68 which opens at one end through the top of the head and at its opposite end through a face of the head and in rplgistration with the openings 46 and 52 int e The passages 65 and 68 of the head 40 are connected together by a pipe 69 containing a sight-glass 70 and a three-way valve 71, and the passages 65 and 68 of the head 41 are connected together by a pipev 72 containing a sight-glass 73 and a three-way valve 74.

The pipe `31 is branched to afford the branches 75 and 76 provided with manually controlled stop-valves 77 and 7 8, respectively, and opening, respectively, into the threeway valves 71 and 74, the pipe 31 between the pump 14 and the branch 75 communicatin ata three-way valve 79 with a pipe 80 whic connects with a through-passage 81 in the head 53 registering with the passage formed by the openings 46 and 52 in the frames 42 and plates 43, respectively, of the filter-press section 37.

ilo I frames 42 and the plates 43, respectively.V A

The end head 54 contains in its inner face a recess 82 communicating, by a port 83, with aA throu h-openin 84 in this head at one corner t ereof an in registration with the passage formed by the openings 45 and 51 of the frames 42 and plates 43 constituting the lter-press section 39, this passage 84` communicating with the pipe 21.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the passage formed by the registering openings 46 and 52 of the rames 42 and plates 43 of the filter-press section 37 are in communication with the pipe 80' and that the outlet passa e formed of the openings 45 and 51 in these rames and plates are in communication with the assa e 65 of the head 40; that the passage orm of the openings 46 and 52 o the frames and plates of the filter- I press section 38 are in communication with the passage 68 of the head 40 and the passage formed by the openings and 51 of the frames and plates of this filter-press section are in communication with the passage 65 of the head 41; that the passage formed by the openings 46 and 52 of the lter-press section 39 are in communication with the passage 68 of the head 4l; and the passage formed by the openings 45 and 51 ofthe frames and plates of this section are in communication with the passage 84 of the head 54 and consequently the pipe 21.

It may be further stated that the threeway valves 71,174 and 7 9, are of common construction, the valve 71 being adapted to close the passage 68 of the head 40 to the passage 65, through the pipe 69, or to open it to the passage 65 and close it to the pipe 75, or close the passage 68 to the passage 65 and open it to the pipe 75; that the valve 74 is operable either to close the passage 68 of the head 41, or open it, to the passage of this head through the pipe 72, or close the passage 68 to the passage 65 and open it to the pipe 76; and

that the valve 79 is operable to shut 0E the fiow through the pipe 31 at this point or open it either to the pipe 80 or to the pipes 75 and 76.

It may be further stated that liquid to be filtered entering the inlet passage of any one of the three filter-press sections and formed by the openin s 46 and 52 thereof, flows throughout the ength of the section and branches o from this inlet into the interiors of each of the frames 42 thereof, thence passing laterally through the filtering cloths 44 and into the recessed portions of the plates adjacent thereto vfrom which it discharges throu h the openings 50 into the outlet passage gormed of the openings 45 and 51.

Inl the particular construction of filterpress illustrated and described the cleaningliquid withdrawn from the washer 11 is subjected to a filtering action for restoring the liquid substantially to its original condition and to this end removes its contained dirt,

the filter-press t ough the inlet thereof any desirable powdered cellular material, as for example kieselguhr mixed preferably with the cleaning liquid as for example benzine; by charging into the section 38, through its inlet, any suitable decolorizing substance, as for example a mixture of powdered charcoal, cellular material, such as kieselguhr, and preferably the cleansing liquid, the charcoal operating to absorb the material in the cleansing fluid which gives to it its undesirable color. The section 39 may be used without any filter substance charged into it, but where it is desiredto remove acid from the cleansing liquid this section should be charged, in the manner described of the other lter-press sections, with a basic compound, such as calcium chloride.

ln the arrangement shown the filter-press sections may be separately charged with the desired materials, as for example those above described, from the mixer 12 in which the several different materials are separately` mixed with the liquid and the valves between the pump 14 and the several filter sections as manipulated to conduct the several filtering tion, the mixture flowing into the interiors of the frames 42 and between layers of the filtering cloth 44, causes the filtering substance to be intercepted by these filtering cloths and results in the formation of cakes of the filtering substances within these frames through which the liquid to be cleansed is caused to iiow in the filtering operation.

It may be further stated that by the arrangement of pi ing and valves as shown tbe Washer 11 may e operated without circulation of the cleaningliquid until the liquid therein becomes too dirty for use, whereupon the valves 30, 79, 33 and 36 may be adjusted to provide a continuous course from the washer 15 through the mixer 12 and pump 14 back to the washer thereby causing the clean cleaning liquid in the mixer12 to become intermingled with the dirty cleaning liquid and in such condition to be used for cleaning until the mixture .of such liquids becomes too dirty for use, whereupon the'various valves are manipulated to cause the cleansing liquid to flow from the washer 11 through the ius mixer 12, pump 14, and filter-press sections 37, 38 and 39 in succession and then back into the washer 11, the cleaning liquid in flowing through these filter-press sections being restored substantially to its original condition.

In apparatus of this general character it is desirable that means be provided for regulating the pressure at which the mixture of liquid and filtering substance is supplied to the several filter-press sections, to ensure against the formation of cakes of the filtering substance in the filter-press sections of too great a density.l This is provided for by the valve 33V which, in the process of forming the filter cakes, is partially open which results in the diversion from the pipe 31 and into the mixer 12, of a portion of the discharge from the pump 14, thereby reducing the pressure supplied to the filter-press sections. .As the cakes form in the filter-press sections, thereby creating certain resistance to the passage of liquid through the filterpress, the operator, by manipulating the valve 33, decreases the liquid flow back to the mixer and increases the flow and pressure to the filter-press with the result that cakes of the desired porosity are formed in the filterpress and the desired volumetric fiow of' 'liquid therethrough, to render the apparatus continuous in operation, is effected.

The location of the Washer 1l and mixer l2 in substantially the samehorizontal plane, together With the commuliication therebetween at their lower portions, as provided by the pipe 29 the latter being of such diameter that the level of the liquid in the washer will l be substantially the same as the level of the liquid in the mixer at all times under the operation of the pump, is of particular advantage as thereby danger of over-flowing the washer is avoided.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction of apparatus embodying my invention I do not wish to be under stood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a washer, a mixer tank in communication with said Washer, a filtering device in communication with said tank and washer, means for circulating the liquid through said Washer, tank and filtering device, and a valved by-pass operative to control the flow of the liquid to said filtering device or to divert a portion of the circulating liquid to said mixer tank.

2., In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a washer, a mixer tank in communication with said washer, a filtering device in communication with said tank and washer, a pump for circulating the liquid through 'said washer, tank andfilteringdevice, and a valved by-pass communicating with said pump between said pump and sai filtering device and opening into said mixer tank.

3. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a Washer, a mixer tank, said washer and tank being located at substantially the same level, a passage opening at its opposite ends into said washer and tankfor gravity flow of liquid from said washer to said tank, a filtering device, and a pump communicating with said tank for circulating the liquid through said Washer, tank and filtering device, said passage being of such cross sectional area as to cause the liquid levels in said washer and tank'to be substantially the same at all times.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a Washer, a mixer tank into which said washer discharges, a filterin `device in communication with said tank an Washer, means for circulating the liquid through said Washer, tank and filtering device, and means operative to controllably divert the flow to said filtering device, of the circulating liquid and direct the diverted liquid through said mixer tank 5. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a washer, a mixer tank into which said washer discharges, a filtering device in communication with said tank and washer, a pump between said mixer tank and filtering device for circulating the liquid through said Washer, tank and filtering device, and means whereby the dischar e rom said pump may be directed into said ltering device or into said mixer tank.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a washer, a mixer tank in communication with said washer, a filtering device in communication with said mixer tank and washer, a pump located between said mixer tank and filtering device for circulating the liquid through said washer, mixer tank and filtering device, and a valved by-pass communicating with said pump, betweenA the latter and said filtering device, and with said mixer tank.

7.' In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a washer, a mixer tank into which said washer discharges by gravity,

a filtering device in communication with said mixer tank and washer, a pump for circulating the liquid through said Washer,-

mixer tank and filtering device, and a valved by-pass communicating with said pump between said pump and said filtering device and opening into said mixer tank.

8. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a Washer, a mixer tank in communication with said washer, a filtering device in communication with said mixer tank and washer,-a pum for circulating the liquid through said was er, mixer tank and filtering device, and controllable means operative to permit all of the liquid to circulate tank and washer, a pump for circulating the liquid through said washer, mixer tank and filtering device, and means operative to permit all of the liquid discharging from the pump to enter said filtering device, or to prevent lany of the liquid from entering said filtering device and permit it to return to said mixer tank, or permit the liquid to flow to both said filtering device and mixer tank in regulatable proportions.

10. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a washer, a mixer tank into which said washer discharges, a filtering device in communication with said mixer tank and washer, a pump located between said mixer tank and filtering device for circulating the liquid through said washer, mixer tank and filtering device, and means operative to controllably divert the flow toy said filtering device, of the circulating liquid and direct the diverted liquid through said mixer tank. v

11. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a circulating closed course for the liquid including a washer, a filtering device and means for circulating the liquid through said course, and controllable means whereby all of the liquid operated by said first-named means may discharge into said washer without passing through said filtering device, or all of such liquid may be passed through said filtering device before discharging into said washer. 12. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a circulating closed course for the liquid including a washer, a mixer tank, a filtering device and means for circulating the liquid through said course, and controllable means whereby all of theliquid operated Von by said first-named means may be discharged into said washer and thence through said mixer tank without passing through said filtering device. or all of such liquid may be passed through said filtering device before discharging into said washer.

13. In apparatus ofthe character set forth, the combination of a circulating closed course for the liquid including a washer, a mixer tank, a filtering device and means for circulating the liquid through said course, and controllable means whereby all of the liquid operated on by said rst-named means may be discharged into said washer and thence through said mixer tank without passing through said filtering device, or all of such liquid may discharge into said mixer tank without passing through said filtering device or washer, or all of such liquid may be passed through said lterin device before discharging into said was er. v

14. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a washer, a mixer tank, said washer and tank being located at substant-ially the same level, a passage opening at its ends into said washer and mixer tank for gravity flow of liquid from said washer to said mixer tank, a filtering device, and a pump communicating with said mixer tank for discharging the liquid from said mixer tankto said filtering device and thence to said washer and mixer tank.

15. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a washer, a mixer tank in communication with said washer, a filtering device in communication with said mixer tank and washer, a pump for circulating the liquid through said washer, mixer tank and filtering device, and controllable means operative to divert all of the liquid discharged by said pump into said washer for flow therefrom into said mixer tank. v

PIERRE L. DORNER. 

